Superman

Jennifer

Reading — Advanced Level
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Activity

Read the text and answer the questions


Superman was born on the planet Krypton. As a baby, his parents sent him to Earth in a small spaceship moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. His ship landed in the American countryside, near the fictional town of Smallville where he was found and adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark Kent.

Clark developed various superhuman abilities, such as incredible strength and impervious skin. His adoptive parents advised him to use his abilities for the benefit of humanity, and he decided to fight crime as a vigilante. To protect his privacy, he changes into a colorful costume and uses the alias "Superman" when fighting crime.

The adult Clark Kent resides in a fictional American city called Metropolis, where he works as a journalist for the Daily Planet. To deflect suspicion that he is Superman, Clark Kent adopted a largely passive and introverted personality with conservative mannerisms, a higher-pitched voice, and a slight slouch. As a journalist he receives late-breaking news before the general public, has a plausible reason to be present at crime scenes, and does not need to strictly account for his whereabouts as long as he makes his story deadlines. He sees his job as a journalist as an extension of his Superman responsibilities—bringing truth to the forefront and fighting for the little guy.

Clark wears his Superman costume underneath his street clothes, allowing easy changes between the two personae and the dramatic gesture of ripping open his shirt to reveal the familiar "S" emblem when called into action. His hair will also change with the costume change, with Superman sporting a small curl or spit curl on his forehead.
Source: Wikipedia
  1. Which best describes the place where Superman came from?

  2. What makes Clark Kent different from the other boys in his town?

  3. As a vigilante, what does Superman do?

  4. What does Clark Kent/Superman believe in as a journalist?

  5. What kind of a man is Clark Kent?

  6. What does Clark Kent change besides his clothing?

Discussion

Practice your writing skills by discussing the questions below

  1. Why is Superman considered the most popular superhero?

  2. What makes someone a hero?

  3. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

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